Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 931

768

NANKING

The inhabited portion lies towards the south and west, and is several miles from the banks of the river. Whatever of architectural beauty or importance belonged to Nanking perished or was reduced to a ruinous condition at or before its occupation by the Taiping rebels. The world famous Porcelain Tower, the most beautiful pagoda in China, was completely destroyed during this period of its history, and now only broken and scattered bricks remain of the structure that was once the glory of Nanking. It stood outside the walls on the south side of the city. The celebrated mausoleum of the Emperor Hung Wu, founder of the Ming dynasty (who died in 1398), with other tombs and monuments known as the Ming Tombs, are just outside the eastern walls. There are many other interesting ruins in or near the city, including the remains of Hung Wu's Palace. Nanking was first brought into notice among Europeans in 1842, in which year the first British Treaty with China was signed here. During the Taiping rebellion no place suffered more. It was first taken by assault by the Taipings on the 19th March, 1853, and after sustaining a prolonged siege was recaptured by the Imperial forces on the 19th July, 1864, a fatal blow to the rebels.

"}

Although Nanking has recovered to a small extent from the prostration which attended its ill-treatment during the rebellion, it has never yet attained any commercial importance, but a brilliant future is predicted for the port if the railway schemes are carried out. "A new and brilliant era wrote the Commissioner of the Imperial Chinese Maritime Customs in his report for 1900," should dawn upon the port of Nanking, on account of its excellent position as a terminus for the railways which will bring down the immense mineral and other wealth of the provinces of Anhwei, Honan, and Shansi. The distance from either Honan or Shansi is about the same to Nanking as to Hankow, and the engineering difficulties of a railway down to the river opposite Nanking are no greater than those of a line to Hankow. The great advantage, then, which should secure to Nanking its position as the outlet for these rich provinces is the fact of its being so much nearer the sea than Hankow and accessible to the deepest draught ocean vessels at all seasons of the year. It is therefore only natural that a line should have been projected from the mineral fields of Shansi to the village of Pu-k'ou, on the other side of the river to Nanking, as mentioned in the 1899 Trade Report. Yet another line, from the mineral district of Hsin-yan (A), in Honan, through Anhwei, with its terminus at P'u-k'ou, is also in contemplation. These two lines, if built, should revolutionise commercial conditions at Nanking, while the line from Shanghai to Nanking should also give an impetus to commercial life." The construction of the railway from Shanghai to Nanking by the British and Chinese Corporation, and its extension from P'uk'ou, on the north bank of the Yangtsze under the joint enterprise of the above corporation and the Peking Syndicate, is well advanced. Trains are running daily as far as Naziang. The Naval College, a large pile of buildings, was opened in 1890. A dozen teachers and instructors are employed, including three foreigners. The Nanking University was founded in 1888 by the Central China Mission of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is now an imposing and well-appointed school, with a roll of 158 scholars. The Arsenal and Powder Mills, for many years in charge of foreigners, are now entrusted to native direction. They are situated just outside the South Gate. A macadamized road has been built from the steamer landing clear through the city to the Tung-Tsi Gate in the south wall, a distance of eight miles. Road making continued steadily in 1901, when "numbers of native cyclists were seen daily.' The carriages and jinrickshas which have been introduced are much appreciated by the people, and it is proposed to construct similar roads to other parts of the city. British, American and German consulates were opened in 1900. As the seat of the viceregal government, and by virtue of its historic associations, Nanking is of importance, and will, no doubt, now that it has been opened to foreign trade, regain a degree of its lost prestige. The net value of the trade of the port for 1904 was Tls. 8,943,384 against Tls. 7,368,736 in 1903.

,,

The abandonment of the present business quarter of the port for some other site has been seriously considered in consequence of the sudden collapse of portions of the river bank. In January 1903, a portion of the bank belonging to the British firm of Butterfield & Swire suddenly collapsed into the river, carrying with it an iron godown. full of cargo and about 150 Chinese coolies lost their lives. Where the godown formerly stood there are now seven fathoms of water. A month later about 200 feet of the Customs bunding collapsed in a similar way. These "wash-outs" are characteristic and common on the Yangtsze-kiang.